Hong Yuhwa (2): The Alchemy Bet

On Wednesdays, there are classes tied to wholesome hobbies. Things like alchemy, reading, cooking, or even studying history.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I yawned lazily as I trudged toward the alchemy lecture hall.

Only people I know here are Hong Yuhwa and Seo Gayeon, huh.

Kim Seohyeon had joined the cooking club. Sure, it meant he could chow down on tasty meals and snacks, but the real reason went back to his childhood—getting trapped in a dungeon and vowing never to go hungry again, no matter what.

Ridiculous, but whatever. Everyone chases different dreams.

Kim Ara was into reading, Erhil did tea ceremonies, and Hong Yuhwa would've normally followed Kim Seohyeon to cooking. But now? She'd trail after me.

And then there was Seo Gayeon. She'd come here because learning alchemy meant easy money. Her family wasn't well-off.

There are a few others, but still.

Korea Hero School strongly encouraged these hobbies. They even supplied top-notch materials.

Creak.

The door slid open, and eyes locked onto me from all directions. Two gazes burned especially fierce.

Hong Yuhwa.

And Song Rahee, the Pharma Witch, chatting intimately with the alchemy professor. It was why she was famous not just as a mage, but as a witch—her mastery of alchemy.

"Sorry I'm a bit late."

"No worries. We were just about to start."

The alchemy professor welcomed me with a warm smile. But right in front of her sat something like black vinyl scales.

Didn't think she'd actually snag it. I'd slipped some shadow vinyl to the shadow snake when transferring it, but looks like she took it all. Never doing grad school. I vowed it silently as I scanned the room.

Plenty of empty seats, but I deliberately plopped down next to Seo Gayeon.

"Hey."

"Uh, hu-huh? Oh, h-hey."

Seo Gayeon fumbled her greeting, flustered.

"Didn't peg you for alchemy."

"Y-yeah. I heard it's su-super useful in all sorts of ways."

She glanced nervously at the professors.

"Alright, everyone, today we're diving into the basics of alchemy: potions. Specifically, the most fundamental ones."

The professor beamed kindly.

"Any guesses on what potion I'll be making?"

"Paralysis antidote."

"Spot on."

Hong Yuhwa spoke up, and the professor nodded with a gentle smile.

"When heroes face monsters, some pack paralytic venom. Every year, countless aspiring heroes underestimate goblins or giant spiders and pay with their lives."

The mood darkened at the word death.

"That's why today, we're crafting paralysis antidotes."

"If we make that, can we try others too?"

"Of course—if you craft an antidote I'm satisfied with. Oh, and feel free to use as many materials as you want."

Eyes lit up around the room at the professor's words. But I knew it was a trap. Satisfying her wasn't easy.

"Can I ask a question?"

"Go ahead."

"What's the recipe for the antidote?"

"Just use ingredients with detox properties."

The professor grinned ear to ear. A few faces went pale as realization dawned.

"Oh, and here's your alchemy kits. Totally free—use 'em however."

Assistants swarmed in, handing them out.

"I'm good. Got my own."

I pulled out my kit, and the professor's eyes sparkled.

"My goodness, how'd you get that? Only Gold rank or higher from the Alchemy Guild can buy those..."

"Got lucky."

"In alchemy, luck is skill. You're Lee Seoha, right? Top of the class—I figured you'd be hopeless at this. My mistake."

She added she'd be keeping an eye on me. Chills ran down my spine. Professors "watching" often meant grad ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠school recruitment.

"You."

Hong Yuhwa's voice. She'd sidled up close.

"Confident in alchemy, huh?"

"Yeah."

Honestly, in this world, no one knew tools better than me. Craftsmen don't care about tools? Bullshit. Better tools mean better results, obviously.

"Wanna bet?"

"Bet?"

My eyes lit up. Hong Yuhwa was the Red Tower Master's granddaughter. Her talent was dazzling—rumors already pegged her as the next master. And best of all... she was a total softie.

"What kind?"

"We make antidotes. Whoever's the professor likes more wins."

"And the prize?"

"...Hmm."

Hong Yuhwa pondered, haughty as ever.

"You name it. I don't know what you want. Can't exceed my authority, but I'll make it happen."

I grinned wide.

"Deal. Let's bet."

"No take-backs."

"So I judge the scores?"

The alchemy professor had snuck up, beaming.

"Yes, please."

Hong Yuhwa confidently swept her materials with practiced ease.

Not bad. If she made the antidote like that, it'd score a solid C+ for a student. Impressively high. Without me here, she'd ace the class no problem.

I grabbed a basket and started picking herbs.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Thanks to my Viewing talent, I picked only the freshest. All poison-brewing herbs. But combined, they synergized to neutralize each other. Mess it up, though, and one drop could wipe out dozens.

She'd love this. I pictured the noble lady who collected demon arms as a hobby—someone I hadn't met yet.

"...All poison herbs?"

"But top freshness across the board. No newbie picks like that."

Professors Song Rahee and Han Yunbi eyed me intently. I focused.

This world wasn't a monitor screen. I knew the mechanics, but variances happened. Still, I'd accepted the bet because I trusted my edge.

Handiwork talent. Boosted all physical actions.

But that wasn't all. I'd recently bought Altun's Secret Alchemy (B) with saved points.

Whew.

I concentrated on the herbs. Knowledge flooded my mind: purification methods for countless plants, recipes for elixirs.

Close enough.

The on-screen methods matched. I ground the herbs in a mortar, made purified water, dumped in the powders. Foul stench erupted.

Blood Flower solution: 4 parts.

Night Yin Flower: 2.

Moonlight Flower: 3.

Blood Berry: 1.

Added by precise measure. Steam rose. The stench faded.

"Poison with poison... My god, with just that kit?"

"Did you catch the ratios? That's the real key..."

"One slip in order or proportion, and it's lethal toxin. No doubt."

Ignoring the murmurs, I slid the antidote into the maturation device. It accelerated aging—why I'd blown my savings on it.

Five minutes later, the potion glowed clear yellow. I held it up.

Appraisal.

I stared at the window, stunned. This was just the world's best antidote? I recalled getting Diamond rank when I joined the Alchemy Guild. Shouldn't this be executive level?

Whatever, not the point.

If this was "top-tier," achievements seemed easier than expected. Points would rack up fast.

I glanced around. Professors Song Rahee and Han Yunbi gaped at me in shock.

Clear win for me.

So, what prize to claim?